MLB: Detroit 6, Kansas City 5

DETROIT, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Miguel Cabrera socked his 39th homer of the season in the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday, handing the Detroit Tigers a 6-5 win over Kansas City.

The Tigers held a 5-4 lead in the eighth but the Royals battled back for a score-tying run against Jose Veras on a Chris Getz RBI single.

That set the stage for Cabrera leading off the ninth. He poked a pitch from Aaron Crow (7-4) just over the fence down the left field line for the walk-off game-winner, driving in his MLB-best 117th run.

Cabrera also leads the majors with a .358 batting average.

Prince Fielder went 2-for-4 with two RBI and Julio Iglesias added three hits, including a run-scoring bunt single, as the American League Central-leading Tigers snapped a two-game skid.

Joaquin Benoit (3-0) pitched a scoreless top of the ninth to earn the decision.

Salvador Perez went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and two RBI for Kansas City.